Device for immobilizing a subject in a medical system

ABSTRACT

The disclosure relates to a system for immobilizing and supporting a subject in a medical procedure. The system may include a treatment apparatus configured to generate a radiation beam, and a device for immobilizing a subject. The device may include an immobilizing component for immobilizing at least one portion of the subject, and a radio frequency (RF) coil configured to receive a magnetic resonance (MR) signal related to the at least one portion of the subject. The immobilizing component may be configured to switch between a first mode and a second mode. The first mode may correspond to a positive pressure or a constant pressure related to the device. The second mode may correspond to a space of vacuum or substantially of vacuum related to the device. The RF coil may be located in the immobilizing component according to a position where the radiation beam is incident on the device.

CROSS-REFERENCE OF RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority of Chinese Patent Application No.201710758535.9, filed on Aug. 29, 2017, the contents of which are herebyincorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to a medical system, and moreparticularly, relates to a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systemand/or a radiation treatment system.

BACKGROUND

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been widely used in medicaldiagnosis, radiation therapy planning, surgery planning and othermedical procedures. The MRI technology makes use of one or more gradientpulses to encode spatial information to MR signals for reconstructingimages. The MR signals may be collected by one or more radio frequency(RF) coils (e.g., local coils). In some embodiments, the RF coils (e.g.,the local coils) may be located far from a patient, which may attenuatethe MR signals collected by the RF coils. The attenuation of the MRsignals may incur noises and/or artifacts in the images reconstructedbased on the received MR signals. Thus, it may be desirable to providesystems and methods for decreasing the attenuation of MR signalscollected by the RF coils.

SUMMARY

In a first aspect of the present disclosure, a device for immobilizingand supporting a subject in a medical procedure is provided. The devicemay include an immobilizing component for immobilizing at least oneportion of the subject, and a radio frequency (RF) coil configured totransmit and/or receive a magnetic resonance (MR) signal. The shape ofthe immobilizing component may be changeable to conform to the portionof the subject. The RF coil may be coupled to the immobilizingcomponent.

In some embodiments, the RF coil may be located in the immobilizingcomponent.

In some embodiments, the RF coil may be detachably coupled to theimmobilizing component.

In some embodiments, the device may further comprise a first chamberdefined by a first surface and a second chamber defined by a secondsurface and the first surface, and the radio frequency coil may bedetachably coupled to the first surface.

In some embodiments, the first chamber or the second chamber may be atleast partially filled with at least one filler material.

In some embodiments, the filler material may comprise at least onefiller material of foam particles, sponge, or cotton.

In some embodiments, the first surface and the second surface may beselectively connected with each other via a first connector.

In some embodiments, the first surface may comprise a second connectorconfigured to close an opening on the first surface.

In some embodiments, the second surface may comprise a valve configuredto control a gas pressure in the immobilizing component of the device.

In some embodiments, the device may be configured to operate in at leastone of a first mode and a second mode. The first mode may correspond toa positive pressure or a constant pressure related to the immobilizingcomponent of the device. The second mode may correspond to a space ofvacuum or substantially of vacuum related to the immobilizing componentof the device.

In some embodiments, the device may be further configured to switchbetween the first mode and the second mode.

In some embodiments, a shape of the device in the second mode may bedefined according to a shape of the at least one portion of the subject.

In some embodiments, the device may further comprise a communicationport connected to the RF coil through which a signal collected by the RFcoil may be transmitted to an external device.

In some embodiments, the RF coil may comprise at least one local coil.

In some embodiments, the RF coil may be arranged according to a shape ofthe at least one portion of the subject.

In some embodiments, the magnetic resonance (MR) signal may relate tothe at least one portion of the subject.

In some embodiments, the device may further comprise a chamber housingthe RF coil and the immobilizing component.

In a second aspect of the present disclosure, a system for immobilizingand supporting a subject in a medical procedure is provided. The systemmay include a treatment apparatus configured to generate a radiationbeam, and a device for immobilizing a subject. The device may include animmobilizing component for immobilizing at least one portion of thesubject, and a radio frequency (RF) coil configured to receive amagnetic resonance (MR) signal related to the at least one portion ofthe subject. The immobilizing component may be configured to switchbetween a first mode and a second mode. The first mode may correspond toa positive pressure or a constant pressure related to the device. Thesecond mode may correspond to a space of vacuum or substantially ofvacuum related to the device. The RF coil may be coupled to theimmobilizing component.

In some embodiments, the RF coil may be located in the immobilizingcomponent according to a position where the radiation beam is incidenton the device.

In a third aspect of the present disclosure, a vacuum cushion forimmobilizing a subject is provided. The vacuum cushion may include ashell, a filler material contained within a region defined by the shell,and a radio frequency (RF) coil. The radio frequency (RF) coil may bedetachably coupled to the vacuum cushion and configured to receive amagnetic resonance (MR) signal related to at least one portion of thesubject. The vacuum cushion may have a first mode in which the fillermaterial moves within the region defined by the shell, and a second modeconformed to the contour of the at least one portion of the subject.

In a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, a heat formable cushionfor immobilizing a subject is provided. The heat formable cushion mayinclude a shell, a filler material contained within a region defined bythe shell, and a radio frequency (RF) coil. The radio frequency (RF)coil may be detachably coupled to the heat formable cushion andconfigured to receive a magnetic resonance (MR) signal related to atleast one portion of the subject. The heat formable cushion may have afirst mode in which the filler material moves within the region definedby the shell, and a second mode conformed to the contour of the at leastone portion of the subject.

Additional features will be set forth in part in the description whichfollows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the artupon examination of the following and the accompanying drawings or maybe learned by production or operation of the examples. The features ofthe present disclosure may be realized and attained by practice or useof various aspects of the methodologies, instrumentalities, andcombinations set forth in the detailed examples discussed below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure is further described in terms of exemplaryembodiments. These exemplary embodiments are described in detail withreference to the drawings. These embodiments are non-limiting exemplaryembodiments, in which like reference numerals represent similarstructures throughout the several views of the drawings, and wherein:

FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic diagrams illustrating an exemplary MRIsystem according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary immobilizing deviceaccording to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary immobilizingdevice according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary immobilizing deviceaccording to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary immobilizing deviceaccording to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4B is a schematic diagram illustrating the first surface accordingto some embodiments of the present disclosure; and

FIGS. 5A-5D are exemplary cross-sectional views illustratingimmobilizing devices according to some embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is presented to enable any person skilled inthe art to make and use the present disclosure, and is provided in thecontext of a particular application and its requirements. Variousmodifications to the disclosed embodiments will be readily apparent tothose skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein maybe applied to other embodiments and applications without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Thus, the presentdisclosure is not limited to the embodiments shown, but is to beaccorded the widest scope consistent with the claims.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularexemplary embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As usedherein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” may be intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprise,”“comprises,” and/or “comprising,” “include,” “includes,” and/or“including”, when used in this specification, specify the presence ofstated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/orcomponents, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or moreother features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components,and/or groups thereof.

It will be understood that the term “system,” “engine,” “unit,” and/or“module” used herein are one method to distinguish different components,elements, parts, section or assembly of different level in ascendingorder. However, the terms may be displaced by another expression if theyachieve the same purpose.

Generally, the word “module” or “unit” as used herein, refers to logicembodied in hardware or firmware, or to a collection of softwareinstructions. A module or a unit described herein may be implemented assoftware and/or hardware and may be stored in any type of non-transitorycomputer-readable medium or another storage device. In some embodiments,a software module/unit may be compiled and linked into an executableprogram. It will be appreciated that software modules can be callablefrom other modules/units or themselves, and/or may be invoked inresponse to detected events or interrupts. Software modules/unitsconfigured for execution on computing devices (e.g., processing engine140 as illustrated in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B) may be provided on acomputer-readable medium, such as a compact disc, a digital video disc,a flash drive, a magnetic disc, or any other tangible medium, or as adigital download (and can be originally stored in a compressed orinstallable format that needs installation, decompression, or decryptionprior to execution). Such software code may be stored, partially orfully, on a storage device of the executing computing device, forexecution by the computing device. Software instructions may be embeddedin firmware, such as an EPROM. It will be further appreciated thathardware modules/units may be included in connected logic components,such as gates and flip-flops, and/or can be included of programmableunits, such as programmable gate arrays or processors. The modules/unitsor computing device functionality described herein may be implemented assoftware modules/units but may be represented in hardware or firmware.In general, the modules/units described herein refer to logicalmodules/units that may be combined with other modules/units or dividedinto sub-modules/sub-units despite their physical organization orstorage. The description may apply to a system, an engine, or a portionthereof.

It will be understood that when a unit, engine or module is referred toas being “on,” “connected to,” or “coupled to,” another unit, engine, ormodule, it may be directly on, connected or coupled to, or communicatewith the other unit, engine, or module, or an intervening unit, engine,or module may be present, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and allcombinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

These and other features, and characteristics of the present disclosure,as well as the methods of operation and functions of the relatedelements of structure and the combination of parts and economies ofmanufacture, may become more apparent upon consideration of thefollowing description with reference to the accompanying drawings, allof which form a part of the present disclosure. It is to be expresslyunderstood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose ofillustration and description only and are not intended to limit thescope of the present disclosure. It is understood that the drawings arenot to scale.

Provided herein are systems and components for medical imaging and/ormedical treatment. In some embodiments, the medical system may includean imaging system. The imaging system may include a single modalityimaging system and/or a multi-modality imaging system. The singlemodality imaging system may include, for example, a magnetic resonanceimaging (MRI) system. Exemplary magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systemmay include a superconducting magnetic resonance imaging device, anon-superconducting magnetic resonance imaging system, etc. Themulti-modality imaging system may include, for example, a computedtomography-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI-CT) system, a positronemission tomography-magnetic resonance imaging (PET-MRI) system, asingle photon emission computed tomography-magnetic resonance imaging(SPECT-MRI) system, a digital subtraction angiography-magnetic resonanceimaging (DSA-MRI) system, etc. In some embodiments, the medical systemmay include a treatment system. The treatment system may include atreatment plan system (TPS), an image-guide radiotherapy (IGRT), etc.The image-guide radiotherapy (IGRT) may include a treatment device andan imaging device. The treatment device may include a linearaccelerator, a cyclotron, a synchrotron, etc., being configured toperform a radio therapy on a subject. The treatment device may includean accelerator of species of particles including, for example, photons,electrons, protons, or heavy ions. The imaging device may include an MRIscanner, a CT scanner (e.g., cone beam computed tomography (CBCT)scanner), a digital radiology (DR) scanner, an electronic portal imagingdevice (EPID), etc.

For illustration purposes, the disclosure describes systems and methodsfor MRI medical applications (e.g., MRI imaging, MRI guided radiotherapytreatment, etc.). It should be noted that the MRI system 100 describedbelow is merely provided for illustration purposes, and not intended tolimit the scope of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic diagrams illustrating an exemplary MRIsystem 100 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. Asshown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the MRI system 100 may include an MR scanner110, a network 120, a terminal 130, a processing engine 140, and a datastorage 150. The connection between the components in the MRI system 100may be variable. Merely by way of example, as illustrated in FIG. 1A,the MR scanner 110 may be connected to the processing engine 140 throughthe network 120. As another example, as illustrated in FIG. 1B, the MRscanner 110 may be connected to the processing engine 140 directly.

The MR scanner 110 may scan at least one portion of the subject.

The subject may be biological or non-biological. Merely by way ofexample, the subject may include a patient, a man-made object, etc. Asanother example, the subject may include a specific portion, organ,and/or tissue of the patient. For example, the subject may include head,brain, neck, body, shoulder, arm, thorax, cardiac, stomach, bloodvessel, soft tissue, knee, feet, or the like, or any combinationthereof. In some embodiments, the MR scanner 110 may receive an MRsignal related to the at least portion of the subject. In someembodiments, the MR scanner 110 may generate an MR image based on thereceived MR signal.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the MR scanner 110 may include amagnetic body 112, a gradient coil 114, a body coil 116, and animmobilizing device 118. In some embodiments, the location of theimmobilizing device 118 in the MR scanner 110 may be adjustable. Forexample, the location of the immobilizing device 118 may be adjusted bya user (e.g., a patient, a doctor, a nurse, etc.). In some embodiments,the location of the immobilizing device 118 may be adjusted according tothe location of a radiation beam (e.g., X-rays, electron rays, photonrays, etc.) in a treatment procedure. The radiation beam may begenerated by a treatment apparatus (not shown). As used herein, thetreatment apparatus may refer to an apparatus configured to apply aradiation therapy to a subject placed in the MRI system 100. In someembodiments, the treatment apparatus may be located inside or out of theMRI system 100.

The magnetic body 112 may generate a static magnetic field during thescanning of the at least one portion of the subject. The magnetic body112 may be of various types including, for example, a permanent magnet,a superconducting electromagnet, a resistive electromagnet, etc.

The gradient coil 114 may provide magnetic field gradients to the mainmagnetic field in an X direction, a Y direction, and/or a Z direction.As used herein, the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z directionmay represent an X axis, a Y axis, and a Z axis in a coordinate system.Merely by way of example, the X axis and the Z axis may be in ahorizontal plane, the X axis and the Y axis may be in a vertical plane,the Z axis may be along the axis of the magnetic body 112. In someembodiments, the gradient coil(s) 114 may include an X-direction coilfor providing a magnetic field gradient to the main magnetic field inthe X direction, a Y-direction coil for providing a magnetic fieldgradient to the main magnetic field in the Y direction, and/orZ-direction coil for providing a magnetic field gradient to the mainmagnetic field in the Z direction. In some embodiments, the X-directioncoil, the Y-direction coil, and/or the Z-direction coil may be ofvarious shape or configuration. For example, the Z-direction coil may bedesigned based on circular (Maxwell) coil. As another example, theX-direction coil and the Y-direction coil may be designed on the basisof the saddle (Golay) coil configuration.

The body coil 116 may emit signals to and/or receive MR signals from atleast one portion of a subject being scanned. As illustrated inconnection with the MR scanner 110, the subject may include a patient,at least a portion, a tissue, or an organ of the patient. In someembodiments, the body coil 116 may be an RF coil. The RF coil may beconfigured to emit RF signals to the subject being examined. In someembodiments, the body coil 116 may include a transmitting coil and areceiving coil. The transmitting coil may emit signals (e.g., RFsignals) that may excite a nucleus in the subject to provide aresonation. The receiving coil may receive MR signals emitted from thesubject. In some embodiments, the RF transmitting coil and RF receivingcoil may be integrated into the same coil. In some embodiments, the bodycoil 116 may be of various types including, for example, a QD orthogonalcoil, a phase-array coil, etc.

The immobilizing device 118 may be configured to immobilize the at leastportion of the subject being scanned and receive an MR signal related tothe at least portion of the subject. Merely by way of example, theimmobilizing device 118 may include, for example, a vacuum cushioncontaining an RF coil, a heat formable cushion containing an RF coil,etc. As another example, the immobilizing device 118 may include avacuum cushion and an RF coil located outside the vacuum cushion, a heatformable cushion and an RF coil located outside the heat formablecushion, etc. The RF coil may be detachably coupled to the immobilizingcomponent (e.g., the vacuum cushion, the heat formable cushion) bybonding, for example, through an adhesive tape, a zipper, etc. Theimmobilizing device 118 may include an immobilizing component and/or acoil. In some embodiments, the immobilizing device 118 may include animmobilizing component for immobilizing the at least a portion of thesubject. The immobilizing component may include, for example, a vacuumcushion or a heat formable cushion for supporting the at least a portionof the subject. As used herein, a vacuum cushion may refer to a cushionthe pressure inside which may be changed to be vacuum or to be less thanthe ambient atmospheric pressure. A heat formable cushion may refer to acushion that may be deformed by the application of heat.

An exemplary vacuum cushion may include a shell, and a filler material(e.g., a plurality of filler particles) contained in the shell. The voidin the vacuum cushion may be occupied by a filling material including,e.g., air. For illustration purposes, the description below is providedwith reference to air as the filling material. In some embodiments, thevacuum cushion may include a plurality of cells air-permeably separatedfrom each other such that there may be air exchange between cells. Acell may contain one or more filler particles, the movement of which arerestricted in the cell.

The vacuum cushion may have a working configuration and a non-workingconfiguration. The vacuum cushion may be considered to be in its workingconfiguration when it has the shape conforming to a subject or a portionthereof to be examined and the shell encloses a space of vacuum orsubstantially of vacuum. As used herein, a space of vacuum may indicatethat the space is void of the air. As used herein, a space substantiallyof vacuum may indicate that the pressure within the space is at least60%, or 70%, or 80%, or 90% lower than the ambient atmospheric pressure.The vacuum cushion may maintain the working configuration until thevacuum or substantial vacuum of the space enclosed in the shell isdestroyed. The vacuum cushion may be considered to be in a non-workingconfiguration when it is not in its working configuration. When thevacuum cushion is in a non-working configuration, its shape does notconform to a subject or a portion thereof to be examined, and/or theshell encloses a space of positive pressure or constant pressure. Asused herein, the positive pressure may refer to a pressure larger thanthe ambient atmospheric pressure, and the constant pressure may refer toa pressure that is close to or equal to the ambient atmosphericpressure. For instance, the pressure within the space is at least 60%,or 70%, or 80%, or 90% of the ambient atmospheric pressure.

An exemplary heat formable cushion may include a shell that is appliedwith a thermoplastic material. Another exemplary heat formable cushionmay include a shell, and a filler material contained within a regiondefined by the shell. The filler material of the heat formable cushionmay include a thermoplastic material. The heat formable cushion may bedeformed by the application of heat.

In some embodiments, the immobilizing device 118 may include a coil (notshown). The coil may include an RF coil. The coil (e.g., the RF coil)may receive an MR signal related to the at least a portion of thesubject and/or emit a signal (e.g., an RF signal) thereto. In someembodiments, the RF coil may include a local coil. As used herein, alocal coil may refer to a coil configured to emit RF pulses to and/orreceive MR signals related to a local region of the subject beingscanned. Merely by way of example, the local coil may be a surface coilincluding, for example, a head coil, knee coil, an ankle joint coil, acervical vertebra coil, a thoracic vertebra coil, a temporomandibularjoint (TMJ) coil, a breast coil, an endorectal coil, an abdomen arraycoil, a head-neck phase-array coil, a body phase-array coil, a doubleleg array coil, a total spine phase-array coil, etc. As another example,the coil may include a birdcage coil, a solenoid coil, a saddle coil, aHelmholtz coil, a phased array coil, a transverse electromagnetic coil,a loop coil, or the like, or a combination thereof.

In some embodiments, the immobilizing device 118 may include a vacuumcushion having a first mode (or referred to a non-working configuration)and/or a second mode (or referred to a working configuration). Theimmobilizing device 118 may be considered to be in its workingconfiguration when it has the shape conforming to a subject or a portionthereof to be examined and includes a space of vacuum or substantiallyof vacuum for housing a filler material (e.g., cells containing fillerparticles) such that the immobilizing device 118 may maintain the shapeuntil the vacuum or substantial vacuum of the space is destroyed. Theimmobilizing device 118 may be considered to be in a non-workingconfiguration when it is not in its working configuration. When theimmobilizing device 118 is in a non-working configuration, its shapedoes not conform to a subject or a portion thereof to be examined,and/or the pressure within the space for housing the filler material isclose to, equal to, or higher than the ambient atmospheric pressure. Themeanings of the terms vacuum, substantial vacuum, a pressure close tothe ambient atmospheric pressure used herein are similar to those usedin the description of a vacuum cushion, and not repeated here.

In some embodiments, the second mode of the immobilizing device 118(e.g., a vacuum cushion) may be configured to conform to the contour ofat least a portion of the subject placed on it. For example, the vacuumcushion may include a plurality of air-permeable cells that areconfigured to contain a plurality of filler particles. The movement ofone or more filler particles within a cell may be restricted within thecell. The cells may be air-permeably separated from each other. When theat least a portion of the subject is placed on the vacuum cushion, thevacuum cushion may be deformed according to the contour of the at leasta portion of the subject. At least a portion of the air in the vacuumcushion may be removed (e.g., through a valve on the vacuum cushion) by,for example, a load relating to the at least portion of the subjectsupported by the vacuum cushion, the suction force generated by a vacuumpump, or the like, or a combination thereof. The load relating to thesubject or a portion thereof may be due to the weight of the subject ora portion thereof (e.g., when the subject or a portion thereof is placedon or otherwise supported by the vacuum cushion), or a force to compressthe vacuum cushion against the subject or a portion thereof (e.g., whenthe vacuum cushion is wrapped around or otherwise secured on the subjector a portion thereof). The removal of air from the vacuum cushion mayresult in the second mode of the vacuum cushion from the first mode. Thevolume of at least a portion of the air-preamble cells may be decreased,and the filler particles contained in the at least one air-permeablecell may be further restrained from movement as compared to that whenthe vacuum cushion is in the first mode, and packed according to thecontour of or the load relating to the subject or a portion thereof.Then, the vacuum cushion in the second mode may conform to the contourof the at least portion of the subject placed on it.

In some embodiments, the immobilizing device 118 may include a heatformable cushion having a first condition and/or a second conditioncorresponding to different configurations of the immobilizing device118. In some embodiments, the second condition of the immobilizingdevice 118 (e.g., a heat formable cushion) may be configured to conformto the contour of at least portion of the subject supported on theimmobilizing device 118 or on which the immobilizing device 118 issecured. For example, the heat formable cushion may include athermoplastic material that may deform by heat. When at least portion ofsubject is placed on the heat formable cushion that is in a firstcondition, a heat source may be used to deform the thermoplasticmaterial such that the heat formable cushion change to a secondcondition. The second condition of the heat formable cushion may conformto the contour of at least portion of the subject supported on the heatformable cushion or on which the heat formable cushion is secured. Whencooled down to, e.g., the room temperature, the thermoplastic materialmay become rigid, and the heat formable cushion may become a rigidcushion maintaining its shape conforming to the contour of the at leastportion of the subject.

In some embodiments, the MR scanner 110 may be a permanent magnet MRscanner, a superconducting electromagnet MR scanner, or a resistiveelectromagnet MR scanner, etc. In some embodiments, the MR scanner 110may be a high-field MR scanner, a mid-field MR scanner, and a low-fieldMR scanner, etc.

In some embodiments, the MR scanner 110 may be connected to orcommunicate with the terminal 130, the processing engine 140 and/or thestorage device. In some embodiments, the MR scanner 110 may transmit theMR signal and/or image data to the terminal(s) 130, the processingengine 140, and/or the storage device 150, via the network 120. Forexample, the MR scanner 110 may send the MR signal and/or the image datato the processing engine 140 for further processing.

The network 120 may include any suitable network that can facilitate theexchange of information and/or data for the MRI system 100. In someembodiments, one or more components of the MRI system 100 (e.g., the MRscanner 110, the terminal(s) 130, the processing engine 140, the datastorage 150, etc.) may communicate information and/or data with one ormore other components of the MRI system 100 via the network 120. Forexample, the processing engine 140 may obtain MR signals from the MRscanner 110 via the network 120. As another example, the processingengine 140 may obtain user instructions from the terminal(s) 130 via thenetwork 120. The network 120 may be and/or include a public network(e.g., the Internet), a private network (e.g., a local area network(LAN), a wide area network (WAN)), etc.), a wired network (e.g., anEthernet network), a wireless network (e.g., an 502.11 network, a Wi-Finetwork, etc.), a cellular network (e.g., a Long Term Evolution (LTE)network), a frame relay network, a virtual private network (“VPN”), asatellite network, a telephone network, routers, hubs, witches, servercomputers, and/or any combination thereof. Merely by way of example, thenetwork 120 may include a cable network, a wireline network, afiber-optic network, a telecommunications network, an intranet, awireless local area network (WLAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), apublic telephone switched network (PSTN), a Bluetooth™ network, aZigBee™ network, a near field communication (NFC) network, or the like,or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the network 120 mayinclude one or more network access points. For example, the network 120may include wired and/or wireless network access points such as basestations and/or internet exchange points through which one or morecomponents of the MRI system 100 may be connected to the network 120 toexchange data and/or information.

The terminal(s) 130 may include a mobile device 130-1, a tablet computer130-2, a laptop computer 130-3, or the like, or any combination thereof.In some embodiments, the mobile device 130-1 may include a smart homedevice, a wearable device, a mobile device, a virtual reality device, anaugmented reality device, or the like, or any combination thereof. Insome embodiments, the smart home device may include a smart lightingdevice, a control device of an intelligent electrical apparatus, a smartmonitoring device, a smart television, a smart video camera, aninterphone, or the like, or any combination thereof. In someembodiments, the wearable device may include a bracelet, footgear,eyeglasses, a helmet, a watch, clothing, a backpack, a smart accessory,or the like, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the mobiledevice may include a mobile phone, a personal digital assistance (PDA),a gaming device, a navigation device, a point of sale (POS) device, alaptop, a tablet computer, a desktop, or the like, or any combinationthereof. In some embodiments, the virtual reality device and/or theaugmented reality device may include a virtual reality helmet, virtualreality glasses, a virtual reality patch, an augmented reality helmet,augmented reality glasses, an augmented reality patch, or the like, orany combination thereof. For example, the virtual reality device and/orthe augmented reality device may include a Google Glass™, an OculusRift™, a Hololens™, a Gear VR™, etc. In some embodiments, theterminal(s) 130 may be part of the processing engine 140.

The processing engine 140 may process data and/or information obtainedfrom the MR scanner 110, the terminal(s) 130, and/or the data storage150. For example, the processing engine 140 may process MR signalsgenerated by the scanner 110 and encode the MR signals forreconstructing an image. As another example, the processing engine 140may determine a lesion (e.g., a tumor) in the reconstructed image anddetermine a treatment plan associated with the lesion based on thereconstructed image. In some embodiments, the processing engine 140 maybe a single server or a server group. The server group may becentralized or distributed. In some embodiments, the processing engine140 may be local or remote. For example, the processing engine 140 mayaccess information and/or data stored in the MR scanner 110, theterminal(s) 130, and/or the data storage 150 via the network 120. Asanother example, the processing engine 140 may be directly connected tothe MR scanner 110, the terminal(s) 130 and/or the data storage 150 toaccess stored information and/or data. In some embodiments, theprocessing engine 140 may be implemented on a cloud platform. Merely byway of example, the cloud platform may include a private cloud, a publiccloud, a hybrid cloud, a community cloud, a distributed cloud, aninter-cloud, a multi-cloud, or the like, or any combination thereof. Insome embodiments, the processing engine 140 may be implemented by acomputing device 200 having one or more components as illustrated inFIG. 2.

The data storage 150 may store data, instructions, and/or any otherinformation. In some embodiments, the data storage 150 may store dataobtained from the terminal(s) 130 and/or the processing engine 140. Insome embodiments, the data storage 150 may store data and/orinstructions that the processing engine 140 may execute or use toperform exemplary methods described in the present disclosure. In someembodiments, the data storage 150 may include a mass storage, removablestorage, a volatile read-and-write memory, a read-only memory (ROM), orthe like, or any combination thereof. Exemplary mass storage may includea magnetic disk, an optical disk, a solid-state drive, etc. Exemplaryremovable storage may include a flash drive, a floppy disk, an opticaldisk, a memory card, a zip disk, a magnetic tape, etc. Exemplaryvolatile read-and-write memory may include a random access memory (RAM).Exemplary RAM may include a dynamic RAM (DRAM), a double date ratesynchronous dynamic RAM (DDR SDRAM), a static RAM (SRAM), a thyristorRAM (T-RAM), and a zero-capacitor RAM (Z-RAM), etc. Exemplary ROM mayinclude a mask ROM (MROM), a programmable ROM (PROM), an erasableprogrammable ROM (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable ROM(EEPROM), a compact disk ROM (CD-ROM), and a digital versatile disk ROM,etc. In some embodiments, the data storage 150 may be implemented on acloud platform. Merely by way of example, the cloud platform may includea private cloud, a public cloud, a hybrid cloud, a community cloud, adistributed cloud, an inter-cloud, a multi-cloud, or the like, or anycombination thereof.

In some embodiments, the data storage 150 may be connected to thenetwork 120 to communicate with one or more other components in the MRIsystem 100 (e.g., the processing engine 140, the terminal(s) 130, etc.).One or more components of the MRI system 100 may access the data orinstructions stored in the data storage 150 via the network 120. In someembodiments, the data storage 150 may be directly connected to orcommunicate with one or more other components in the MRI system 100(e.g., the processing engine 140, the terminal(s) 130, etc.). In someembodiments, the data storage 150 may be part of the processing engine140.

This description is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit thescope of the present disclosure. Many alternatives, modifications, andvariations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The features,structures, methods, and characteristics of the exemplary embodimentsdescribed herein may be combined in various ways to obtain additionaland/or alternative exemplary embodiments. However, those variations andmodifications do not depart the scope of the present disclosure. Forexample, the body coil 116 may be omitted. The function of the body coil116 (e.g., receiving MR signals and/or emitting RF pulses) may beperformed by the local coil in the immobilizing device 118. As anotherexample, in some embodiments, the MRI system 100 may include a pluralityof immobilizing devices 118. The plurality of immobilizing devices 118may correspond to different parts of a subject (e.g., a patient) beingexamined. For example, the MRI system 100 may include a firstimmobilizing device, a second immobilizing device, etc. Merely by way ofexample, the first immobilizing device may be configured to immobilizean arm of the patient being examined and collect MR signals therefrom,while the second immobilizing device may be configured to immobilize aleg of the patient being examined and collect MR signals therefrom. Insome embodiments, the plurality of the immobilizing devices 118 (e.g.,the first immobilizing device and the second immobilizing device) mayoperate synchronously in an imaging procedure and/or in a treatmentprocedure.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary immobilizing device118 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG. 2, the immobilizing device 118 may include a radio frequency (RF)coil module 202, a communication port 204, and an auxiliary module 206.

The RF coil module 202 may emit RF signals to and/or receive MR signalsfrom a part of the subject being examined. As described in connectionwith the immobilizing device 118, the subject may include a patient, oran organ, a tissue of the subject, or a part thereof. The RF coil module202 may include a certain number of RF coils. An RF coil may include alocal coil (e.g., a surface coil). In some embodiments, the number ofthe RF coils included in the RF coil module 202 may be changed. Merelyby way of example, at least one of the RF coils included in the RF coilmodule 202 may be taken out of the immobilizing device 118. As anotherexample, at least one extra RF coil may be put into the RF coil module202 of the immobilizing device 118. In some embodiments, an RF coil maybe taken out of or put into the RF coil module 202 through an opening asillustrated below in the present disclosure. In some embodiments, thenumber of the RF coils included in the RF coil module 202 may relate tothe shape and/or size of the part of the subject being examined. Merelyby way of example, one RF coil may be included in the RF module 202 whenthe subject being examined is a finger of a patient. As another example,3 to 5 RF coils may be included in the RF module 202 when the subjectbeing examined is a palm of the patient. The RF coils included in the RFcoil module 202 may be arranged depending on one or more factorsincluding, for example, the size or shape of the part of the subjectbeing examined. For example, the RF coils may be arranged in a circlewhen the part of the subject being examined (e.g., a head) isapproximately cylindrical or spherical in shape. In some embodiments, atleast one coil of the RF coils included in the RF coil module 202 may belocated at a position spaced apart from a position where a radiationbeam is incident on the immobilizing device 118, to prevent the RF coilsfrom being located in the pathway of the radiation beam (e.g., X-rays,electron rays, photon rays, etc.). The radiation beam may be generatedby a treatment apparatus illustrated elsewhere in the presentdisclosure. The distance between the RF coil and the position where theradiation beam is incident on the immobilizing device 118 may be atleast, for example, 1 centimeter, 2 centimeters, 3 centimeters, 5centimeters, etc.

The communication port 204 may provide a connection between the RF coilmodule 202 and an external device not included by the immobilizingdevice 118. In some embodiments, the external device may include adevice included in one or more components of the MRI system 100 (e.g.,the terminal 130, the processing engine 140, the data storage 150).Merely by way of example, the external device may include a smart homedevice, a wearable device, a mobile device, a virtual reality device, anaugmented reality device, or the like, or any combination thereof.

The communication port 204 may provide a connection between the RF coilmodule 202 and one or more components of the MRI system 100. In someembodiments, the RF coil module 202 may transmit the MR signals to theone or more components of the MRI system 100 through the communicationport 204. Merely by way of example, the communication port 204 mayprovide a connection between the RF coil module 202 and the processingengine 140, and transmit an MR signal collected by the RF coil module202 to the processing engine 140 for further processing. In someembodiments, the connection may be a wired connection, a wirelessconnection, any other communication connection that can enable datatransmission and/or reception, and/or any combination of theseconnections. The wired connection may include, for example, anelectrical cable, an optical cable, a telephone wire, or the like, orany combination thereof. The wireless connection may include, forexample, a Bluetooth™ link, a Wi-Fi™ link, a WiMax™ link, a WLAN link, aZigBee link, a mobile network link (e.g., 3G, 4G, 5G, etc.), or thelike, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the communicationport 204 may be and/or include a standardized communication port, suchas RS232, RS485, etc. In some embodiments, the communication port 204may be a specially designed communication port. For example, thecommunication port 204 may be designed in accordance with the digitalimaging and communications in medicine (DICOM) protocol.

The auxiliary module 206 may be configured to support and/or immobilizeat least portion of the subject being scanned. The auxiliary module 206may be in various forms, such as a cushion, a bag, or the like, or acombination thereof.

In some embodiments, the auxiliary module 206 may be configured to housethe RF coil module 202. Merely by way of example, the RF coil module 202may locate inside of the auxiliary module 206 (e.g., a cushion). In someembodiments, the auxiliary module 206 may include at least one chamberhousing the RF coil module 202. For example, the auxiliary module 206may include a chamber. The RF coil module 202 may be located in thechamber. As another example, the auxiliary module 206 may include afirst chamber and a second chamber different from the first chamber. Forinstance, the first chamber and the second chamber may be configuredside by side, one on top of the other, etc. In some embodiments, thefirst chamber and the second chamber may be spaced apart. The RF coilmodule 202 may be placed inside of the first chamber, while the secondchamber is at least partially filled with a filler material. In someembodiments, the first chamber may be at least partially filled with afiller material, in addition to the RF coil module 202. In someembodiments, the first chamber may house the RF coil module 202 withouta filler material. In some embodiments, the filler material in the firstchamber and/or the second chamber may be at least one filler materialincluding, e.g., foam particles, sponge, cotton, or the like, or acombination thereof. In some embodiments, the auxiliary module 206 mayinclude a first surface forming the first chamber. The first chamber mayhouse the RF coil module 202. As another example, the auxiliary module206 may further include a second surface enclosing the first surface.The second chamber may be formed between the first surface and thesecond surface. In some embodiments, at least one portion of the secondsurface and at least one portion of the first surface may be connectedby a first connector, such as a zipper. In some embodiments, the firstsurface and/or the second surface may include an opening. The openingmay be configured to take the RF coils out of the auxiliary module 206.In some embodiments, the opening may be closed by a second connector,for example, a zipper.

In some embodiments, the first chamber and/or the second chamber mayinclude at least one filler material. The filler material may includefoam particles, sponge, cotton, or the like, or a combination thereof.The foam particles may include one or more polymer materials such asresin, fiber, rubber, etc. The resin may include phenolic,urea-formaldehyde, melamine-formaldehyde, epoxy, polyurethane,polyimide, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), acrylonitrile butadienestyrene (ABS), polyamide, polylactic acid (PLA), polybenzimidazole(PBI), polycarbonate (PC), polyethersulfone (PES), polyetheretherketone(PEEK), polyethylene (PE), polyphenylene oxide (PPO), polyphenylenesulfide (PPS), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chloride(PVC), etc. The sponge may include nature cellulose, foamed resin, etc.The foamed resin may include polyether, polyester, polyvinyl alcohol,etc. In some embodiments, the fill rate for the filler material in thefirst chamber and/or the second chamber may vary depending on theimmobilizing requirements of the immobilized device 118.

In some embodiments, the auxiliary module 206 may include a valve. Insome embodiments, the valve may be mounted on the first surface or thesecond surface. The valve may be configured to provide gas communicationbetween the auxiliary module 206 and a source of negative pressure(e.g., a vacuum pump). For example, the pressure in the first chamberand/or the second chamber may be adjusted by the valve and the source ofnegative pressure (e.g., a vacuum pump). Further, the source of negativepressure (e.g., a vacuum pump) may render the first chamber and/or thesecond chamber via the valve to include a space of vacuum orsubstantially of vacuum.

In some embodiments, the auxiliary module 206 may include a bolster. Thebolster may be made of one or more rigid or semi-rigid plastics. Therigid or semi-rigid bolster may be movable to provide additional supportfor a subject being supported by the immobilizing device 118. Forexample, the bolster may be moved to support a knee of a patient duringan imaging procedure or a treatment procedure. As another example, thebolster may be moved to support the underneath of a neck of a patientwhen the patient is lying on the immobilizing device 118.

In an imaging procedure, when a patient or one portion of the patient isplaced on the auxiliary module 206, auxiliary module 206 may be deformedto a shape that accommodates the patient or the portion of the patient.The portion of the patient may include the head, the neck, the body, ashoulder, an arm, the thorax, a knee, a foot, or the like, or anycombination thereof. In some embodiments, the shape that accommodatesthe patient or a portion of the patient may be configured to maintainfor a certain time. For example, for a vacuum cushion in the secondmode, the shape of the vacuum cushion may maintain until the pressure inthe vacuum cushion changes. The auxiliary module 206 may be connected tothe source of the negative pressure (e.g., a vacuum pump) via the valve.The source of the negative pressure (e.g., a vacuum pump) may generate apressure (e.g., vacuum) in the auxiliary module 206 smaller than apressure outside of the auxiliary module 206, and the auxiliary module206 may be molded to the patient's contours. The filler material that ispreviously free-flowing in the auxiliary 206 may be constrained bycompression resulting from the atmospheric pressure on the outside ofthe auxiliary module 206. The RF coils in the RF coil module 202 maybecome closer to the patient or the portion of the patient for receivingan MR signal related to the patient by the compression resulting fromthe atmospheric pressure outside of the auxiliary module 206. When thepatient or the portion of the patient separates from the auxiliarymodule 206, the auxiliary module 206 may be still deformed by thecompression resulting from the atmospheric pressure outside of theauxiliary module 206, and the deformation of the auxiliary module 206may be in accordance with the patient's contours. Then in a treatmentand subsequent treatment procedures related to the patient, the patientor the portion of the patient may be placed on and positioned by thedeformed auxiliary module 206.

This description is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit thescope of the present disclosure. Many alternatives, modifications, andvariations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The features,structures, methods, and characteristics of the exemplary embodimentsdescribed herein may be combined in various ways to obtain additionaland/or alternative exemplary embodiments. For example, the communicationport 204 and the auxiliary module 206 may be combined into one singlemodule. As another example, the immobilizing device 118 may furtherinclude a processor. The processor may be connected to the RF coilmodule 202 for processing MR signals collected by the RF coil module202. However, those variations and modifications do not depart the scopeof the present disclosure.

FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary immobilizingdevice 300 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. Asshown, the immobilizing device 300 may include a valve 302, a firstsurface 304, a second surface 306, one or more radio frequency (RF)coils 308, a first chamber 310, a second chamber 312, and acommunication port 314.

The first surface 304 may form the first chamber 310. The first chamber310 may house the radio frequency coils 308. The RF coils 308 may bedetachably coupled to the first surface 304 by bonding, for example,through an adhesive tape, a zipper, etc. The RF coils 308 may bedetached from the first surface 304 such that the RF coils 308 may betaken out from the immobilizing device 300. Further, in someembodiments, the RF coils 308 taken out from the immobilizing device 300may be reused. For instance, the RF coils 308 removed from oneimmobilized device 300 may be placed into another immobilizing device300. The second surface 306 may enclose the first surface 304. The firstsurface 304 and/or the second surface 306 may include one or moregas-impermeable materials, such as a nylon cloth or a gas-impermeablecoating, such as a polyurethane coating. The second chamber 312 may beformed between the first surface 304 and the second surface 306. Thesecond chamber 312 may enclose the first chamber 310. The second chamber312 may be filled with at least one filler material as described inconnection with FIG. 2.

The valve 302 may be configured on the second surface 306 to provide gascommunication between the first chamber 310 and/or the second chamber312 and a source of negative pressure (e.g., a vacuum pump). The sourceof negative pressure may be connected to the valve 302 to control apressure in the first chamber 310 and/or the second chamber 312. Forexample, when the first surface 304 is gas-impermeable, the valve 302mounted on the second surface 306 may provide a gas communicationbetween the second chamber 312 and the source of negative pressure(e.g., a vacuum pump). As another example, when the first surface 304 isgas-permeable, the valve 302 mounted on the second surface 306 mayprovide a gas communication between the first chamber 310, the secondchamber 312, and the source of negative pressure (e.g., a vacuum pump).

The communication port 314 may be connected to the RF coils 308 and anetwork (e.g., the network 120) to establish connections between the RFcoils 308 and the processing engine 140, the storage module 408, and/orthe data storage 150.

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary immobilizing device300 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG. 3B, the RF coils 308 may be arranged in the first chamber 310according to a shape of the immobilizing device 300. The second chamber312 may be filled with at least one filler material. The filler materialmay include foam particles, sponge, cotton, or the like, or acombination thereof. The foam particles may include one or more polymermaterials such as resin, fiber, rubber, etc. The resin may includephenolic, urea-formaldehyde, melamine-formaldehyde, epoxy, polyurethane,polyimide, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), acrylonitrile butadienestyrene (ABS), polyamide, polylactic acid (PLA), polybenzimidazole(PBI), polycarbonate (PC), polyethersulfone (PES), polyetheretherketone(PEEK), polyethylene (PE), polyphenylene oxide (PPO), polyphenylenesulfide (PPS), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chloride(PVC), etc. The sponge may include nature cellulose, foamed resin, etc.The foamed resin may include polyether, polyester, polyvinyl alcohol,etc.

FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary immobilizing device400 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG. 4A, the immobilizing device 400 may include a first surface 404, asecond surface 406, a first chamber 410, a second chamber 412, and oneor more radio frequency coils 408. In some embodiments, the firstchamber 410 may be included in the second chamber 412. In someembodiments, the first chamber 410 and the second chamber 412 may bepositioned next to each other or separate from each other. For example,the first chamber 410 may be formed by the first surface 404. The secondchamber 412 may be formed by the second surface 406. At least oneportion of the first surface 404 and at least one portion of the secondsurface 406 may be connected to each other through a first connector,for example, a zipper.

FIG. 4B is a schematic diagram illustrating the first surface accordingto some embodiments of the present disclosure. The first surface 404 mayinclude an opening (not shown in FIG. 4B) and a second connector 416configured to close the opening (e.g., a closed opening represented bythe dotted line as shown in FIG. 4B). The second connector 416 mayinclude, for example, a zipper. The radio frequency coils 408 may betaken out of the first chamber 410 through the opening.

FIGS. 5A-5D are exemplary cross-sectional view illustrating immobilizingdevices according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 5A, an immobilizing device 500 may include a valve 501,a first surface 502, a second surface 503, a radio frequency coil 504, afirst chamber 505, a second chamber 506, and a communication port 507.The immobilizing device 500 may have a triangle structure, which may besuitable for a knee. For example, the immobilizing device 500 in thetriangle structure may cover and immobilize a knee of the patient.

As shown in FIG. 5B, an immobilizing device 530 may include a valve 508,a first surface 509, a second surface 510, a radio frequency coil 511, afirst chamber 512, a second chamber 513, and a communication port 514.The immobilizing device 530 may have a T-shape structure configured toimmobilize a torso or an arm of a patient in an imaging procedure or atreatment procedure.

As shown in FIG. 5C, an immobilizing device 560 may include a valve 515,a first surface 516, a second surface 517, a radio frequency coil 518, afirst chamber 519, a second chamber 520, and a communication port 521.The immobilizing device 560 may have a circular structure configured toimmobilize the face or head of a patient in an imaging procedure or atreatment procedure. The radio frequency coils 518 may be arrangedaccording to the shape of the immobilizing device 560.

As shown in FIG. 5D, an immobilizing device 590 may include a valve 522,a first surface 523, a second surface 524, a radio frequency coil 525, afirst chamber 526, a second chamber 527, and a communication port 528.The immobilizing device 590 may be configured to immobilize a portion ofa patient, for example, a hand, a foot, a neck, a breast, a finger, atoe, a joint, etc. The immobilizing device 590 may be of a shape (orsize) corresponding to the shape of the portion of the patient.

Having thus described the basic concepts, it may be rather apparent tothose skilled in the art after reading this detailed disclosure that theforegoing detailed disclosure is intended to be presented by way ofexample only and is not limiting. Various alterations, improvements, andmodifications may occur and are intended to those skilled in the art,though not expressly stated herein. These alterations, improvements, andmodifications are intended to be suggested by the present disclosure,and are within the spirit and scope of the exemplary embodiments of thepresent disclosure.

Moreover, certain terminology has been used to describe embodiments ofthe present disclosure. For example, the terms “one embodiment,” “anembodiment,” and/or “some embodiments” mean that a particular feature,structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodimentis included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.Therefore, it is emphasized and should be appreciated that two or morereferences to “an embodiment” or “one embodiment” or “an alternativeembodiment” in various portions of this specification are notnecessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, theparticular features, structures or characteristics may be combined assuitable in one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

Further, it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects ofthe present disclosure may be illustrated and described herein in any ofa number of patentable classes or context including any new and usefulprocess, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new anduseful improvement thereof. Accordingly, aspects of the presentdisclosure may be implemented entirely hardware, entirely software(including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or combiningsoftware and hardware implementation that may all generally be referredto herein as a “unit,” “module,” or “system.” Furthermore, aspects ofthe present disclosure may take the form of a computer program productembodied in one or more computer readable media having computer readableprogram code embodied thereon.

A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signalwith computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, inbaseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may takeany of a variety of forms, including electro-magnetic, optical, or thelike, or any suitable combination thereof. A computer readable signalmedium may be any computer readable medium that is not a computerreadable storage medium and that may communicate, propagate, ortransport a program for use by or in connection with an instructionexecution system, apparatus, or device. Program code embodied on acomputer readable signal medium may be transmitted using any appropriatemedium, including wireless, wireline, optical fiber cable, radiofrequency (RF), or the like, or any suitable combination of theforegoing.

Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of thepresent disclosure may be written in any combination of one or moreprogramming languages, including an object oriented programming languagesuch as Java, Scala, Smalltalk, Eiffel, JADE, Emerald, C++, C#, VB. NET,Python or the like, conventional procedural programming languages, suchas the “C” programming language, Visual Basic, Fortran 2103, Perl, COBOL2102, PHP, ABAP, dynamic programming languages such as Python, Ruby andGroovy, or other programming languages. The program code may executeentirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as astand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partlyon a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. Inthe latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user'scomputer through any type of network, including a local area network(LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to anexternal computer (for example, through the Internet using an InternetService Provider) or in a cloud computing environment or offered as aservice such as a Software as a Service (SaaS).

Furthermore, the recited order of processing elements or sequences, orthe use of numbers, letters, or other designations, therefore, is notintended to limit the claimed processes and methods to any order exceptas may be specified in the claims. Although the above disclosurediscusses through various examples what is currently considered to be avariety of useful embodiments of the disclosure, it is to be understoodthat such detail is solely for that purpose and that the appended claimsare not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, areintended to surface modifications and equivalent arrangements that arewithin the spirit and scope of the disclosed embodiments. For example,although the implementation of various components described above may beembodied in a hardware device, it may also be implemented as a softwareonly solution, for example, an installation on an existing server ormobile device.

Similarly, it should be appreciated that in the foregoing description ofembodiments of the present disclosure, various features are sometimesgrouped in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for thepurpose of streamlining the disclosure aiding in the understanding ofone or more of the various inventive embodiments. This method ofdisclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intentionthat the claimed subject matter requires more features than areexpressly recited in each claim. Rather, inventive embodiments lie inless than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment.

In some embodiments, the numbers expressing quantities or propertiesused to describe and claim certain embodiments of the application are tobe understood as being modified in some instances by the term “about,”“approximate,” or “substantially.” For example, “about,” “approximate,”or “substantially” may indicate ±20% variation of the value itdescribes, unless otherwise stated. Accordingly, in some embodiments,the numerical parameters set forth in the written description andattached claims are approximations that may vary depending upon thedesired properties sought to be obtained by a particular embodiment. Insome embodiments, the numerical parameters should be construed in lightof the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinaryrounding techniques. Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges andparameters setting forth the broad scope of some embodiments of theapplication are approximations, the numerical values set forth in thespecific examples are reported as precisely as practicable.

Each of the patents, patent applications, publications of patentapplications, and other material, such as articles, books,specifications, publications, documents, things, and/or the like,referenced herein is hereby incorporated herein by this reference in itsentirety for all purposes, excepting any prosecution file historyassociated with same, any of same that is inconsistent with or inconflict with the present document, or any of same that may have alimiting affect as to the broadest scope of the claims now or laterassociated with the present document. By way of example, should there beany inconsistency or conflict between the description, definition,and/or the use of a term associated with any of the incorporatedmaterial and that associated with the present document, the description,definition, and/or the use of the term in the present document shallprevail.

In closing, it is to be understood that the embodiments of theapplication disclosed herein are illustrative of the principles of theembodiments of the application. Other modifications that may be employedmay be within the scope of the application. Thus, by way of example, butnot of limitation, alternative configurations of the embodiments of theapplication may be utilized in accordance with the teachings herein.Accordingly, embodiments of the present application are not limited tothat precisely as shown and described.

1. A device for immobilizing a subject in a medical procedure, thedevice comprising: an immobilizing component for immobilizing at leastone portion of the subject, wherein the shape of the immobilizingcomponent is changeable to conform to the portion of the subject; and aradio frequency (RF) coil configured to transmit or receive a magneticresonance (MR) signal, wherein the RF coil is coupled to theimmobilizing component.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the RF coil islocated in the immobilizing component.
 3. The device of claim 2, whereinthe RF coil is detachably coupled to the immobilizing component.
 4. Thedevice of claim 2, wherein the device further comprises a first chamberdefined by a first surface and a second chamber defined by a secondsurface and the first surface, and the radio frequency coil isdetachably coupled to the first surface.
 5. The device of claim 4,wherein the first chamber or the second chamber is at least partiallyfilled with at least one filler material.
 6. The device of claim 5,wherein the filler material comprises at least one filler material offoam particles, sponge, or cotton.
 7. The device of claim 4, wherein thefirst surface and the second surface are selectively connected with eachother via a first connector.
 8. The device of claim 4, wherein the firstsurface comprises a second connector configured to close an opening onthe first surface.
 9. The device of claim 4, wherein the second surfacecomprises a valve configured to control a gas pressure in theimmobilizing component of the device.
 10. The device of claim 1, whereinthe device is configured to operate in at least one of a first mode anda second mode, wherein the first mode corresponds to a positive pressureor a constant pressure related to the immobilizing component of thedevice, and the second mode corresponds to a space of vacuum orsubstantially of vacuum related to the immobilizing component of thedevice.
 11. The device of claim 10, wherein the device is furtherconfigured to switch between the first mode and the second mode.
 12. Thedevice of claim 10, wherein a shape of the device in the second mode isdefined according to a shape of the at least one portion of the subject.13. The device of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises acommunication port connected to the RF coil through which a signalcollected by the RF coil is transmitted to an external device.
 14. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the RF coil comprises at least one localcoil.
 15. The device of claim 1, wherein the RF coil is arrangedaccording to a shape of the at least one portion of the subject.
 16. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the MR signal relates to the at least oneportion of the subject.
 17. The device of claim 1, wherein the devicefurther comprises a chamber housing the RF coil and the immobilizingcomponent.
 18. (canceled)
 19. (canceled)
 20. A vacuum cushion forimmobilizing a subject, comprising: a shell; a filler material containedwithin a region defined by the shell; and a radio frequency (RF) coilwhich is detachably coupled to the vacuum cushion and configured toreceive a magnetic resonance (MR) signal related to at least one portionof the subject, wherein the vacuum cushion has a first mode in which thefiller material moves within the region defined by the shell, and asecond mode conformed to the contour of the at least one portion of thesubject.
 21. A heat formable cushion for immobilizing a subject,comprising: a shell; a filler material contained within a region definedby the shell; and a radio frequency (RF) coil which is detachablycoupled to the heat formable cushion and configured to receive amagnetic resonance (MR) signal related to at least one portion of thesubject, wherein the heat formable cushion has a first condition inwhich the filler material moves within the region defined by the shell,and a second condition conformed to the contour of the at least oneportion of the subject.